why my friends hate me

They do, some of them anyway. They seem to believe that it is somehow my fault my kids are so well, wonderful.
It first started with Buggy, she was a great sleeper, and slept through the night in the first few months. This is apparently not what you tell parents whose kids do not sleep through the night still after the age of 2. She also sleeps in her own bed, always has. Don't get me wrong she has climbed in with us after a bad dream or two, but she just prefers her own bed. I do feel sorry for her future husband though; that girl kicks all night long!
My son says thank-you when you change his diaper. This is also unusual I hear. Not in my house,it happens all the time here. It is not just the diapers either, he says thank-you for his bath too.
They are pretty well mannered kids, they even say excuse me when passing others in the grocery store. When is the last time you heard an adult do that?
Recently I was on the phone with a friend who was having a hard time getting her tween to clean her own room. As we were talking she heard Buggy say in the background; "Mommy, cam I have a job to do?" She then proceeded to help me fold the towels as she was done making her bed and putting away her books. Not that she is always like that, just usually.
In an effort to make this a little less of a bragging on my kids session I must add that today I was informed that I "just don't understand what it is like to be a kid." I coulda sworn I had a few more years til I heard that one.....

Today's pic is by my cousin, she is great with a camera. Dimples was shaking everyone's hand outside my sister's wedding in September. What a little gentleman!

Literacy Skills can kill….

Ever have one of those dreams that you live in a romance novel then wake up and realize your life is more a Dr. Seuss book? You keep repeating the same phrases over and over, and the little creatures you live with rhyme everything you say. Yeah, yeah I know the early literacy skills thing, but when the teachers called it "rhyming like crazy" in school they were not kidding. Yipes! D is getting in on the act now too, but does not quite get it. He just shouts out random words instead of the rhymes.

Wordless Wednesday

Thomas Sneakers

I took the kids for a walk today to the library. Not really a feat until you consider it is about a mile each way on hilly terrain with the kids in the wagon. TIRED! The walks to the pool this summer will be easier it is 1/4 the distance.

B got to pick out more fairy books, she apparently thinks they are great. Even if momma has to stay with her during the Jack Frost parts. Last night Daddy opened her door after lights out and she put down her book and said "OH Daddy I am a reader girl" in a tone that just made ya want to pity her.Ugh!

On the nap side D went down without a fight today. About 10 min after I tucked him in he was lying there with his arms crossed over his chest and a very angry and determined look that said "I will lie here but I will not sleep" 5 min after that he was out.

I usually manage to avoid the character sneakers in the store but D got a pair of Thomas ones today. We got home from the store at bedtime so we had to take them away. He was crawling around on the floor with them, pounding on them to make them light up, and insisting he needed them on NOW. I am thinking that if tomorrow is a walk day we may have to take them off after he falls asleep.

The latest word in our house is gregarious,and it fits them well. She talks constantly. When asked why she was talking it was "because I am 4" "so what happens when you turn 5?" "I'll take a break for a few days" How far away is August?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I took the two of them to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this morning. It pretty much set the theme of the day. I was surprised that D sat for the whole show, a little sleepy at the end but he seemed to focus on the stage. Pointing "what kids doin?" B was enthralled as usual. It seems she is used to meet and greet following the show though, she was not happy that she did not get to meet the cast.
When we got to school, I warned her teacher that she might be a little wound up. No sooner had I gotten the warning out when she came running down the hall talking about the show a mile a minute. By the end of the school day she was worn out pretty well.
I took D home, much to his disappointment for a nap. " come on let's put D in for his nap"--me
"I not D, I Sissy!"--what that boy will do to avoid a nap. We did have to take blankey along when we picked her up, a half hour nap was just not long enough.
It was a kinda rainy day, so we drove to the craft store for some supplies. On the way I hear them playing in the back seat. They were pulling each other out of the "chocolate river" with rope scarves.

In honor of our chocolate factory day and the fact that we miss our back door neighbor.... a pic of D at the chocolate factory in York

"the clock has to share the time; not keep the time..." B

Pretty slow day.
I did get a little work done, on B's swimming suits.
We are going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tomorrow.
Here are a few of the kids favorite things to say to keep ya busy......


Where sissy are?
NO sissy nap, D school!

No school tomorrow, I will be stopping at the library early to pick up my stack of books. I even found one that is about a ballerina fairy! Kudos to the very helpful staff at Baraboo Public Library! We have a pretty good stack, a few of which are part of a series so there are more where they came from.

Naptime today was quite the adventure. I first tucked D in at 12, his usual time. He FOUGHT this one. 2 diaper changes, and 5 tuck ins later he was too tired to fight it anymore. It was also 230. At some point he located a cup and was banging it on the rails of his bed....like a prisoner. There was about 15 min of "let me out here" then the "let me out here,please" Yeah the please is not gonna help ya this time pal....even if I can hear the sticky sweet smile that comes with it. My boy...has dimples and knows how to use 'em.

She told me the story from "The Firebird" as portrayed in Fantasia while Daddy read to D tonight. Yeah, the comprehension portion of her reading test will not be an issue. She was pretty upset about the girl who almost got burned up, but it turned out good, she made the whole world alive again.

Did not get any sewing done today, too busy tucking in D. Hopefully I will have more success tomorrow.

The pic is 1/28/08.

My sister M rocks! Thanks for the postcards. She is so excited when they come and she gets to find the state on her map. You the best!

Viva la differance

There are 2 eleven yr old girls in my life whose names start with K. One is raising funds for cancer research by shaving her head, the other is up on assault and battery charges..........WOW!

My little reader is currently in her room throwing a hissy fit because I made her put ALL the coins in the piggy bank, including the gold dollar coins. This is not her norm. The sitter from the other night was shocked that the two of them just climb into bed after story time. No whining or fussing just right to bed. Proud of my kids! By the way that punctuation is an excited mark--- not an exclamation point.

D grew last night--I swear he is taller than he was when I put him to bed. His little belly is gone too...now his diaper is all that holds up his pants. To those that think cloth diapers are "too thick" I say Thank goodness or that boy would walk out of his pants every time! It is kinda funny to watch it happen.
I love how excited he gets waiting for her to come home from school. "Where Sissy are?" is his first question when he gets up from his nap. He gives her the biggest hugs when she gets home. On the flip side only Sissy kisses make bumped heads feel better now. Poor Mommy!
The gala was fun, kinda. I went to a fund raiser for a theater and was not working....odd for me. No lights, scenery or set up required of me. I even wore (GASP) a dress!

I am kinda inspired by K, my niece. I was making her a few hats for after she shaves her head and was wondering if I should sell a few. I sold nothing on my last Etsy site, so why would this time be different?


B is upstairs doing the dishes, my least favorite chore. He is the best!

The picture is from B after her first St Patty's Day Parade!